Improvement in machines for pressing hat-frames



L. P. FAUGHT.

Machines for Pressing Hat-Frames.

N0. 130,031. Patented July30, 1872.

se@ fb f f s 7 s\ /s 7 u* u. y l; Irl/l: l cf a PH U I v In :fern-a mwa c1? n j? a LEMUEL P. FAUGHT, or FoxBonoUeH, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENTIN MACHINES FOR PRTESSING HAT-FRAMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,031, .dated July 30,1872.

To all whom it may concern) Be it known that I, LEMUEL I. FAUGHT, of

Foxborough, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement `in Machines for Pressing Hat- Frames; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawing 4which accompanies and forms a part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those Skilled in the art to practice it.

The invention relates to the construction of a press or machine particularly designed for forming hat-frames of buckram, millinet, lace, or other suitable material used for hat or bonnet frames. In the invention I use, in combination with adie or former block having the shape to be imparted to the crown and rim, a pair of open-andshut diejaws, jointed to a plate which is attached to a vertically-sliding cross-head, said jaws being so constructed and arranged that as they descend they keep open until they reach nearly to the rim of the former-block, and then automatically close upon the former-block, pressing and shaping the cloth laid upon the former-block, while when the cross-head rises the jaws automatically open, leaving the shaped frame upon the former-bloc'k. The invention consists, primarily, in combining with the former upon which the frame is shaped open-and-shut die-jaws, which rst descend toward and over the former-block,

' and then automatically close inward (laterally) upon it, and which automatically open as the jaws rise.

The drawing represents a machine embody ing my improvements.

A shows an end view of the machine. B is a sectional elevation of it. C is a front view of it. Dis a plan of it.

c denotes a base, from which extend uprights b, which support a cross-beam or bedplate c. Upon this plate rests the former d, composed of the rim-piece e and the crownshaping block, which block may be solid orin one piece, but for bellshaped crowns is preferably made sectional, Awith a center iixed block, f, and two side blocks g h, the center block fbein g made with inclined sides, so that the block tapers toward the top, and the Side blocks with inclined faces resting and sliding upon the faces of said center block, so that by moving them upward the diameter of the block is so decreased that the bell-crown formed thereupon, and which is smaller in the center of the body than at the top, may be easily removed. idenotes a cross-head,l parallel to the beam c,and,1ixed to the tops of vertical slides k, that slide in the uprights b, the lower end of said slides being fixed to another crosshead, l, the slides 7c la and cross-heads i l con! stituting a vertically reciprocating frame, which frame is jointed to a foot-lever, m, as seen at A, and is thrown down by pressure upon said lever, being raised by the stress of suitable sprin gs n n, its elevated position being its normal position. Under and xed tothe upper cross-head i is a plate, o, to two op posite edges of which are hinged two formerjaws, p p. Each jaw p is preferably made with a straight outer edge, q, by which edge the jaw is hinged to the edge of the plate o', and, being thus Suspended from these two opposite outer edges, the weight of the jaws causes thenr to fall apart or open, as seenat B, when the jaws are raised. They may, however, be

separated, or their separation may be accelert ated bythe action of a spring; but I prefer that they should fall apart by their weight alone. When they open, the extent of their opening movement may be limited by any suitable device, the wire r, hooked at its ends and passing through eyes s, fixed to the jaws, answering well for this purpose. Each jaw is made with a projection, t, and under these projections are two inclines or arms, u, which,

l when the jaws descend, are struck by the proj ections t, forcing the jaws together and closing them upon the former-block, or upon the cloth laid over such block, the projections not striking the arms until the inner face of the jaws have nearly reached the rim of the block.

The whole operation is as follows: The cloth for the frame having been properly prepared is laid over the former-block, a-nd the lever mV is then pressed down, thereby carrying down the jaws, and causing them to close upon the cloth and `force it against the former. The frame having been thus shaped upon the former-block, the pressure upon the lever is then withdrawn, and the stress of the springs will then-throw up the lever and cross-head frame, and the jaws will open or fall apart, leaving the pressed frame. upon the form er-block ready rrucE. i

for removal, to effect which removal the blocksections g h may be slid up sufficiently to so contract the former as to permit the shaped frame to be freely removed from it.

By these means the frames may be very rapidly and perfectly made, and no hand manipulation is required other than what is necessary to apply the cloth, raise the block-pieces g h, and remove the frame7 the downward movement of the cross-head frame being produced by the action of the foot upon the lever, and all the other movements being automatic.

To prevent the formation of seams or folds upon the frame when the meeting faces of the jaws close upon it, anges e may be employed7 

